WEBVTT SHOWS US HOW THE TEAM ISPREPARING TO SAVE LIVES.MAX: FROM ITS BANKS, THEAMERICAN RIVER LOOKS INVITING ASTHE WHITE CAPS SPLASH AND ROLLWITH THE CURRENT.THE TRUTH -- IT'S ANYTHING BUT.>> THE SPEED OF THE WATER ISTREACHEROUS AND THE TEMPERATUREOF THE WATER WILL MAKE YOU GOHYPOTHERMIC PRETTY DARN QUICK.MAX: IN OTHER WORDS, THE SIERRARUNOFF CREATING THESE SCENICVIEWS CAN ALSO BE PARALYZINGEVEN TO THE BEST SWIMMER.>> WHEN YOU GET A REAL CRAMP, IFYOU'VE EVER NOTICED, THEY'REALMOST PARALYZED WHEN YOU HAVETHAT CRAMP.SAME THING HAPPENS IN THIS WATERDUE TO THE COLD WATER.MAX: 40 MEN AND WOMEN COMPRISEDART, THE DROWNING ACCIDENTRESCUE TEAM, AN ALL-VOLUNTEERGROUP THAT PERFORMS SWIFT WATERRESCUES AND ONE THAT SEARCHESFOR THOSE WHO'VE DROWNED.>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO A LOT OFDIVING, WHICH IS RECOVERY. MAX: DAYS BEFORE THE FIRSTWEEKEND ON PATROL, ABOUT A DOZENMEMBERS TRAIN ALONG THE AMERICANRIVER.IN THIS SWIFT WATER RESCUEEXERCISE, IT TAKE SIX PEOPLEJUST TO RESCUE ONE PERSON.YOU HAVE THE STRANDED SWIMMERWHO'S GOING TO BE CHASED DOWN BYTHIS RESCUER BEING ABLE BY THREEPEOPLE HOLDING ONTO A ROPE.SHOULD THAT RESCUER MISS THATSWIMMER -- IN THIS CASE, HE DOESGRAB HIM -- THERE ARE TWO MOREPEOPLE DOWNSTREAM EACH ONE OFTHEM HOLDING A ROPE WHO CANTHROW THAT OUT AND TRY TO BRINGTHAT PERSON TO SAFETTHEY WILL PATROL THE AMERICANAND SACRAMENTO RIVERS.AN AREA IN WHICH THERE HASN'TBEEN DROWNING SINCE MID-SUMMER2015 FOLLOWING THE DEATHS OF 16PEOPLE BECAUSE OF DART'S ACTIVEPRESENCE. >> THE SWIFT WATER TEAM HASGOTTEN MORE INTENSE ON OURTRAINING.WE'VE GOTTEN MORE INTENSE IN THEEQUIPMENT THAT WE'RE GETTING.MAX: AND THEY PLAN TO USE THISPROACTIVE APPROACH ALONG WITHEDUCATION TO THE WATERS SAFE ALLSUMMER LONG.IN RANCHO CORDOVA, MAX RESNIK,

This year's rainy season has led to Sacramento-area rivers moving faster and colder this summer -- making water conditions dangerous.

With the unofficial start of summer this weekend and the increased number of people hitting the Sacramento and American rivers, the all-volunteer Drowning Accident Rescue Team -- DART for short -- was training Tuesday.

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"The speed of the water is treacherous and the temperature of the water will make you go hypothermic pretty darn quick," said Jim Remick, a swift water technician with DART. "When you get a real cramp, if you've ever noticed, (you're) almost paralyzed when you have that cramp. Same thing happens in this water due to the cold water."

Volunteers practiced swift water rescues, where swimmers become stranded in the water and are helpless as they glide with the current, along the American River in Rancho Cordova.

Max Resnik/KCRA 3

Members of DART prepare for swift water rescue practice

It can take up to six people to rescue one person. Here's what happens during a rescue:

1. DART is positioned downstream, ahead of the swimmer

2. Three DART members serve as an anchor, holding onto a long rope with a rescuer attached at the other end. The rescuer times his swim into the river so he can grab the stranded swimmer mid-stream.

3. If the DART member misses the stranded swimmer and that person continues down the river, two more DART members are positioned farther downstream. Each has a rope in hand that they can throw at the person, hoping the swimmer will grab hold and can then be pulled to safety.

The team is currently made up of 40 volunteers, including former officers, firefighters, engineers, nurses and construction workers. The team hopes to get 65 volunteers.

"The quickest thing you'll get to do is do what they call shore support," Remick explained. "You'll get an opportunity to be trained as a swift water technician if your swimming skills are good enough. If your swimming skills aren't, then we give you time to practice. We help you out, and eventually you'll get here."

Remick said if you find yourself hung up in brush or trees, you should try your best to hold on as long as you can -- and if possible, work your way to the river bank. If you become trapped in rocks, there's no one simple answer on how to get to safety.